Removable shelf-supporting post

ABSTRACT

For use in a display case or the like, a vertical tubular post is disposed and supported therein by a member downwardly extending from the top of the case into the top of the post, and a member upwardly extending from the bottom of the case into the bottom of the post. The post may be removed from the case by moving it axially upward until the bottom end thereof is free of the associated upwardly extending member, and then swinging the bottom end thereof laterally. Means are included for selectively limiting the axial upward movement of the post when it is supported within the case.

United States Patent Inventor Appl. No.

Filed Patented REMOVABLE SHELF SUPPORTING POST 1 Claim, 5 Drawing Figs.

US. Cl 312/305 Int. Cl A47b 49/00 Field of Search 312/305, 306

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,527,132 10/1950 Jackson 312/305 3,197,096 7/1965 Marcocchio ABSTRACT: For use in a display case or the like, a vertical tubular post is disposed and supported therein by a member downwardly extending from the top of the case into the top of the post, and a member upwardly extending from the bottom of the case into the bottom of the post. The post may be removed from the case by moving it axially upward until the bottom end thereof is free of the associated upwardly extending member, and then swinging the bottom end thereof laterally. Means are included for selectively limiting the axial upward movement of the post when it is supported within the case.

PATENTEU M1319?! "$574,435

- sum 1 OF 4 lZ-F- INVENTOR. LOUIS E BARROERO ATTORNEYS PATENTED APR 1 3 I97! SHEET 3 BF 4 I N VEN'TOR. LOUIS F. BARROERO BY M W. WW

ATTORNEYS REMOVABLE SHELF-SUPPORTING POST BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to shelf-supporting posts for use in display cases and, more particularly, to such a post which is removable and replaceable.

In the type of display case which utilizes shelves supported by a vertical post, it would for many reasons be desirable to provide means for securely holding the post in position, yet allowing easy removal (and replacement) thereof. If such means were provided, the post, with shelves thereon, could be easily removed to provide a larger clear space within the case. Upon their removal, the post and shelves, and the interior of the case, could be easily handled and cleaned. Then either the original post and shelves, or another embodiment thereof, could be easily installed It is therefore an object of this invention to provide a post for use in a display case which is easily removable from and replaceable in the display case, meanwhile having a plurality of shelves fixed thereto.

It is a still further object-of this invention to provide a removable and replaceable post for use in a display case, which post, and means for providing such features of easy removability and replaceability, are extremely simple in structure and effective in operation.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Broadly stated, in combination with a case having a case frame, shelf support means are included comprising an upright post disposed within the case. Means are associated with the case frame for supporting the post at its bottom end and limiting movement of the bottom end laterally of the longitudinal axis of the post when it is so supported. Means are associated with the case frame for limiting movement of the top end of the post laterally of the longitudinal axis of the post when the bottom end is so supported, the post being upwardly movable along its longitudinal axis to permit movement of the bottom end laterally of the longitudinal axis of the post. Means are included for selectively limiting the movement of the post upwardly along its longitudinal axis.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS These and other objects of the invention will become apparent from a study of the following specification and drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a side elevation, partially in section, of a display case incorporatingthe removable post structure;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view, with portions removed, of the post shown supported within the display case;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along the line 3-3 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 2, but showing a step in the removal of the post;

FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG. 1, showing the post removed.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Shown generally in FIG. 1 is a display case 10. Such display case 10 includes a case frame 12 including top frame portion 14 and bottom frame portion 16. Supported by bottom frame portion 16 is a thrust bearing 18 (FIG. 2) on which is disposed a support casting 20. Thrust bearings 22, 23 are supported by support casting 20. Disposed on top of the thrust bearing 23 is an upwardly extending member 24. Passing through apertures in the upwardly extending member 24, support casting 20, and the centers of thrust bearings 18, 22, 23 is a bolt 26 the end of which threadedly engages a nut 28 on the underside of bottom frame portion 16. As the nut-and-bolt structure 26, 28 is tightened, it will be seen that the upwardly extending member 24 acts as a retainer to keep the parts associated therewith in proper position, meanwhile allowing rotating of the support casting 20.

Similar structure, but in reversed order, is associated with the top frame portion 14. Such structure includes thrust bearing 30, support casting 32, thrust bearing 34, and a downwardly extending member 36, which acts as a retainer, through the use of bolt 38 and nut 40. Thrust bearings 30, 34 allow rotating of support casting 32. Fixed to support castings 20, 32 is a door 37 (FIG. 1) which is rotatable with them to open and closed positions.

A tubular post 42 is disposed within the case It). The tubular post 42 is positioned so that the upwardly extending member 24 is positioned in the bottom end thereof, and is supported on a bushing 44 (which defines a support surface) disposed about upwardly extending member 24. When the tubular post 42 is in such position, the downwardly extending member 36 is positioned in the top end thereof, with a bushing 46 being interposed therebetween. Downwardly extending member 36 has a groove 47 formed thereabout into which removably seats a resilient retaining ring 48. Such retaining ring 48 limits the movement of bushing 46 and post 42 upwardly along its longitudinal axis A, and keeps it in a position where neither the top end nor the bottom end of the post 42 can be moved in a direction lateral of the longitudinal axis A of the post 42.

Such post 42, it will be understood, may have a variety of shelves, as 50, 52, 54 (FIGS. 1 and 5) mounted thereon.

In order to remove the post 42 (and shelves 50, 52, 54

therewith), the door 37 is moved to its opened position. The retaining ring 48 is then removed, so that the post 42 may be moved upwardly along its longitudinal axis A, until bushing 46 contacts the upper flange 36A of the downwardly extending member 36. With the post 42 in such position, the bottom end of post 42 is free of the upwardly extending member 24 and is no longer limited in its lateral movement thereby. The post 42 may then be moved to the position shown in FIG. 4 and in phantom in FIG. 5, there being sufficient clearance between post 42 and bushing 46, and downwardly extending member 36 and bushing 46, to allow such movement. The post 42 is then moved downward until the top thereof no longer engages the downwardly extending member 36 (FIG. 5). The post 42 (and shelves 50, 52, 54) may then be completely removed from the case 10.

It will be understood that installation of the post 42 and shelves 50, 52, 54, or a similar post structure, is achieved by following these steps in reverse order.

It will be seen that herein is provided a post structure for use in a display case, such post structure being easily and conveniently removable and replaceable in the display case. This is so even with a number of shelves fixed to and supported by the post. Thus, the post structure and shelves can be easily removed to provide a large open space within the display case, or to allow the case, or the post and shelf structure, to be easily and conveniently cleaned and handled. Moreover, the post itself, and the structure which yields such advantages, is extremely simple.

I claim:

1. In combination with a case having a case frame, shelf support means comprising:

a. a tubular upright post disposed within the case;

b. bottom end limiting means associated with the case frame for supporting the post at its bottom end and movement of the bottom end laterally of the longitudinal axis of the post when it is so supported, said bottom end limiting means comprising a bushing supported relative to the case frame and defining a support surface for supporting the bottom end of the post, and an upwardly extending member fixed relative to the case frame and positioned in the tubular bottom end of the post when the bottom end of the post is so supported;

c. top end limiting means associated with the case frame for limiting movement of the top end of the post laterally of the longitudinal axis of the post when the bottom end is so supported, the post being upwardly movable along its longitudinal axis to permit movement of the bottom end laterally of the longitudinal axis of the post, said top end limiting means comprising a downwardly extending extending member to limit the movement of the post upwardly along its longitudinal axis, said resilient ring being selectively removable from the groove to allow the movement of the post upwardly along its longitudinal axis thereby permitting said shelf support means to be readily removed from said case frame. 

1. In combination with a case having a case frame, shelf support means comprising: a. a tubular upright post disposed within the case; b. bottom end limiting means associated with the case frame for supporting the post at its bottom end and limiting movement of the bottom end laterally of thE longitudinal axis of the post when it is so supported, said bottom end limiting means comprising a bushing supported relative to the case frame and defining a support surface for supporting the bottom end of the post, and an upwardly extending member fixed relative to the case frame and positioned in the tubular bottom end of the post when the bottom end of the post is so supported; c. top end limiting means associated with the case frame for limiting movement of the top end of the post laterally of the longitudinal axis of the post when the bottom end is so supported, the post being upwardly movable along its longitudinal axis to permit movement of the bottom end laterally of the longitudinal axis of the post, said top end limiting means comprising a downwardly extending member fixed relative to the case frame and positioned in the tubular top end of the post when the bottom end of the post is so supported; and d. upward movement limiting means for selectively limiting said movement of the post upwardly along its longitudinal axis comprising a selectively removable resilient ring adapted to seat in a groove formed about the downwardly extending member to limit the movement of the post upwardly along its longitudinal axis, said resilient ring being selectively removable from the groove to allow the movement of the post upwardly along its longitudinal axis thereby permitting said shelf support means to be readily removed from said case frame. 